Beat Writer s Block with Journaling
Writing Skills
Training
Provided by Online Training Directory
A program for the beginning and "blocked" writer who needs a jump-start.
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Beat Writer s Block with Journaling
Beat Writer's Block with Journaling
Full Description
Outcomes:
Assessment:
Week 1
The writer is introduced to journalling process and daily writing practice.
Week 2
The writer explores freefall and stream-of-consciousness techniques.
Week 3
The writer uses clustering and modelling exercises to expand the base of ideas.
Week 4
The writer uses recollection, recall and imagination to access possible topics.
Week 5
The writer submits a completed narrative or verse (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essay, missive, etc.)
Week 6
The writer is given an introduction to editing and rewriting tips and techniques.
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SAMPLE LESSON WEEK 1
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Freewriting
As we begin this course on unblocking your writing and creativity, the first assignment is going to help you open up your creative channels through freewriting. I encourage you to begin journalling by purchasing a spiral bound notebook. If you prefer, you can journal on the computer but there is something about actually writing down your thoughts that brings out a different level of creativity.
Freewriting is personal and introspective that helps you to focus inward and find your creativity center. Looking inside ourselves we find endless sources of writing material, filled with power and energy. After all, writing is born out of our life experiences. Our memories, conscience, imagination and dreams shape the things we write, whether we write fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, or even non-fiction.
In freewriting, it is best to focus on a powerful memory or emotion. I have supplied some prompts below for you to choose from. It''''s hard to write down the words, "I love..." or "I hate . . " and not follow them instantly with a rush of thoughts and memories. The point of freewriting is to find that "rush" of thoughts and memories.
If you''''d like an incredible book on freewriting--one that will help you go to the page every day and write for the joy of it--take a look at "A Writer''''s Book of Days," by Judy Reeves. Not only is the book filled with a year''''s worth of writing prompts, but Judy explains the "rules" in detail and shares her wonderful insights.
There are basic "rules" for freewriting, devised by all sorts of different authors from Natalie Goldberg to Anne Lamott, to Judy Reeves. Below is a summary written by Karen Swank who provides prompts for several online lists. Here are Karen''''s freewriting rules:
The "Rules" for Freewriting:
READ THESE "RULES!" -- Always read these "rules" of freewriting practice, they ground you in the process of writing. The few moments it takes you to read them, helps to remove you from your daily life, helps to set the ritual of writing practice.
Writing is About Writing (some notes on the art and practice of freewriting)
A) Writing is about writing, the actual act of writing. Writing is about the business of putting words to paper. It isn''''t about publishing what you write, it isn''''t about any other person reading what you write. Writing is about writing.
B) Write everyday. Make writing a time for you to take moments from your life -- spent in consort with you and an implement, a page, a journal, a computer word processing program. Honor your writing with a fine pen, a quality journal, a dignified cup of coffee. Find your own way to take the time, to respect yourself and the writer within. Make a daily date with yourself.
C) Writing takes practice. All fine things we do we need practicing. Practice can be a program you follow, a routine, a prompt, a class. It can be a journal entry, a letter to a friend (real or imagined, sent or not).
D) Writing is about getting what is in you...out. It isn''''t about punctuation or grammar. We learned those things a long time ago, about the same time we turned off our creative selves. Misspell,misplace, split infinitives, forget all the rules, just write from within. Your writing will have power and personality. Besides, in the process of editing you will change your hat and see all the capitalization you missed, the comma splices--but that is reserved for AFTER the act of writing.
E) Write your senses. Write the tastes, sights, sounds, textures. Write colors, and smells. Write with specifics. Your work will be alive.
F) Write your first thoughts. Don''''t edit as you write. Write the stuff that comes to mind. Don''''t worry about being nice and polite. As a matter of fact, throw out the word nice. The word "nice" is not a nice word! Write even if uncomfortable. Your writing and words will have the power of the emotions you put behind them. Sometimes your words may embarrass you, frighten, enlighten, amuse, feel those feelings as you go.
G) Writing practice is a time when you can work on a specific project, or you can divert and go somewhere totally different. Sometimes we need to let a piece, thought or topic rest. Sometimes it needs to sleep both on the page and in your mind. Use writing practice as a time to try new topics or ideas. Think poetically one day, think memoir the next, try third person, experiment with dialogue. Allow the thoughts and words to flow. They sometimes know better than the writer what form they need to take. In time you will trust this and you will trust your words.
H) Know that some days you will write trash and some days you will write a perfect piece and other days you will just write. The point is--you are writing.
For your first assignment, try writing on one (or all) of the following prompts. For future journalling topics, you might try writing down your own prompts on small pieces of paper, drawing one each day to prompt your journal entry. To get you started, here are a few prompts:
I love . . .
I hate . . .
The first time I . . .
I remember . . .
She told me . . .
We will work with one of your prompts or completed works of writing so watch for your favorite insights or thoughts as you write in your journal each day.
| Through journal exercises, freefalling, modeling and "stream of consciousness" work, the writer learns to abandon the structures which have restrained their talent, and take on the craft from a whole new perspective. |
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NOTE: This is a self-directed course. Students will receive feedback on the final week`s assignment. Exercises completed before that week will be used to tailor the course to the student`s needs but will not receive individual feedback. Five to six written assignments, loosely based on the exercises provided in the Modules. |
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To learn writing process and produce a completed work of the writer`s choice. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SAMPLE LESSON WEEK 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Freewriting
As we begin this course on unblocking your writing and creativity, the first assignment is going to help you open up your creative channels through freewriting. I encourage you to begin journalling by purchasing a spiral bound notebook. If you prefer, you can journal on the computer but there is something about actually writing down your thoughts that brings out a different level of creativity.
Freewriting is personal and introspective that helps you to focus inward and find your creativity center. Looking inside ourselves we find endless sources of writing material, filled with power and energy. After all, writing is born out of our life experiences. Our memories, conscience, imagination and dreams shape the things we write, whether we write fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, or even non-fiction.
In freewriting, it is best to focus on a powerful memory or emotion. I have supplied some prompts below for you to choose from. It''''s hard to write down the words, "I love..." or "I hate . . " and not follow them instantly with a rush of thoughts and memories. The point of freewriting is to find that "rush" of thoughts and memories.
If you''''d like an incredible book on freewriting--one that will help you go to the page every day and write for the joy of it--take a look at "A Writer''''s Book of Days," by Judy Reeves. Not only is the book filled with a year''''s worth of writing prompts, but Judy explains the "rules" in detail and shares her wonderful insights.
There are basic "rules" for freewriting, devised by all sorts of different authors from Natalie Goldberg to Anne Lamott, to Judy Reeves. Below is a summary written by Karen Swank who provides prompts for several online lists. Here are Karen''''s freewriting rules:
The "Rules" for Freewriting:
READ THESE "RULES!" -- Always read these "rules" of freewriting practice, they ground you in the process of writing. The few moments it takes you to read them, helps to remove you from your daily life, helps to set the ritual of writing practice.
Writing is About Writing (some notes on the art and practice of freewriting)
A) Writing is about writing, the actual act of writing. Writing is about the business of putting words to paper. It isn''''t about publishing what you write, it isn''''t about any other person reading what you write. Writing is about writing.
B) Write everyday. Make writing a time for you to take moments from your life -- spent in consort with you and an implement, a page, a journal, a computer word processing program. Honor your writing with a fine pen, a quality journal, a dignified cup of coffee. Find your own way to take the time, to respect yourself and the writer within. Make a daily date with yourself.
C) Writing takes practice. All fine things we do we need practicing. Practice can be a program you follow, a routine, a prompt, a class. It can be a journal entry, a letter to a friend (real or imagined, sent or not).
D) Writing is about getting what is in you...out. It isn''''t about punctuation or grammar. We learned those things a long time ago, about the same time we turned off our creative selves. Misspell,misplace, split infinitives, forget all the rules, just write from within. Your writing will have power and personality. Besides, in the process of editing you will change your hat and see all the capitalization you missed, the comma splices--but that is reserved for AFTER the act of writing.
E) Write your senses. Write the tastes, sights, sounds, textures. Write colors, and smells. Write with specifics. Your work will be alive.
F) Write your first thoughts. Don''''t edit as you write. Write the stuff that comes to mind. Don''''t worry about being nice and polite. As a matter of fact, throw out the word nice. The word "nice" is not a nice word! Write even if uncomfortable. Your writing and words will have the power of the emotions you put behind them. Sometimes your words may embarrass you, frighten, enlighten, amuse, feel those feelings as you go.
G) Writing practice is a time when you can work on a specific project, or you can divert and go somewhere totally different. Sometimes we need to let a piece, thought or topic rest. Sometimes it needs to sleep both on the page and in your mind. Use writing practice as a time to try new topics or ideas. Think poetically one day, think memoir the next, try third person, experiment with dialogue. Allow the thoughts and words to flow. They sometimes know better than the writer what form they need to take. In time you will trust this and you will trust your words.
H) Know that some days you will write trash and some days you will write a perfect piece and other days you will just write. The point is--you are writing.
For your first assignment, try writing on one (or all) of the following prompts. For future journalling topics, you might try writing down your own prompts on small pieces of paper, drawing one each day to prompt your journal entry. To get you started, here are a few prompts:
I love . . .
I hate . . .
The first time I . . .
I remember . . .
She told me . . .
We will work with one of your prompts or completed works of writing so watch for your favorite insights or thoughts as you write in your journal each day.
Contact Hours: 24
About The Training Provider: Online Training Directory
Online Training Directory - Workforce and Continuing Ed online courses are offered at basic, intermediate and advanced levels. Going beyond basic training provides a deeper and more educationally rewarding learning experience, especially for students who wish to advance careers or initiate new ones. For the general lifelong learner we continue to offer "fun to learn" single, stand-alone courses.
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